Method and device for straightening hair

ABSTRACT

A non-electric hair straightening device having is disclosed. The hair straightening device includes a body having a first portion and a second potion portion. The first and second portions further include inner and an outer surfaces. The first portion is pivotally connected to the second portion along a first side of the body, such that the inside of the first portion abuts the inside of the second portion, and a fastener along a second side of the body. At least one of the inner surfaces of the first and second portion includes a plurality of bristles to engage with strands of hair.

RELATED APPLICATION DATA

[0001] The present application is a non-provisional application based on, and claiming the priority benefit of, co-pending U.S. provisional application Serial No. 60/409,428, which was filed on Sep. 10, 2002, and is expressly incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

[0002] The present invention generally relates to a device for straightening hair and, more particularly, relates to a non-electric hair straightening device.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

[0003] Many people with varying degrees of curly hair have the desire to straighten their hair and/or remove curls. To straighten hair and/or remove curls, several devices and methods can and have been used including, but not limited to, using a flat iron, blow drying the hair using a brush or comb, and/or using chemical solutions. Each of the above mentioned methods and devices has, however, aspects that make it difficult and/or impractical to use.

[0004] The flat iron, for example, requires, among other things, a costly iron, electricity or an alternate power source to operate the iron. The iron is also heavy and cumbersome to use, which makes its use less than ideal. Similarly, using a blow-dryer to straighten the hair requires electricity and a costly blow-dryer, and it required the complete attention of the user. The chemical solutions are often toxic and can greatly damage the hair, which to a lesser extent also occurs with the other above-identified options.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] There still remains a need for an improved method and device for straightening hair. In accordance with one aspect of the disclosure, a hair straightening device having a body and a fastener is disclosed. The body includes a first portion and a second portion having an inside and an outside, wherein the first portion and the second portion are pivotally connected by a seam that is adapted to allow for the inside of the first portion to abut the inside of the second portion. The body further includes a plurality of bristles that are located on at least one of the insides of the first and the second portion. A fastener is adapted to secure the first and second portions together with hair entrapped between.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0006]FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a hair straightening device in the open position;

[0007]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the hair straightening device of FIG. 1, in the open position, as hair is inserted into the hair straightening device;

[0008]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the hair straightening device of FIG. 1, in the closed position, after hair is inserted into the hair straightening device; and

[0009]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of multiple hair straightening devices, in the closed position, after hair is inserted into the hair straightening device.

[0010] While the method and device described herein are susceptible to various modifications and alternative constructions, certain illustrative embodiments thereof are shown in the drawings and will be described below in detail. However, there is no intention to limit the invention to the specific forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, alternative constructions, and equivalents falling within the spirit and scope of the invention and the appended claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0011] Referring now to the drawings, and with specific reference to FIG. 1, a hair straightening device is generally depicted by reference numeral 20. As shown therein, the hair straightening device 20 includes a body 22 having a first portion 26 and a second portion 32. The first portion 26 has an inside surface 28 and an outside surface 30. The second portion 32 includes an inside surface 34 and an outside surface 36. The first portion 25 is connected to the second portion 32 along a first side 33 of the body 22, and in this exemplary embodiment is connected by a seam 38. At least one of the inside surfaces 28, 34 of the first and second portions 26, 32, respectively, may further include a plurality of bristles 40.

[0012] In one exemplary embodiment as depicted FIG. 1, the hair straightening device 20 may be of a generally rectangular configuration, such that the first portion 26 and the second portion 32 each have two elongated sides 42, 44 and two short sides 46, 48. The first and second portions 26, 32, in this exemplary embodiment, may be fixedly connected to each other at the seam 38 which may be located on the elongate sides 42 of each of the first and second portions 26, 32. The seam 38 may be created by sewing or stitching the first and second portions 26, 32 together, or it may be created by other means, including, but not limited to, melting the portions 26, 32 together, gluing the portions 26, 32 together, forming a living hinge, or any other suitable means to accomplish the intended purpose. Similarly, the first and second portions 26, 32 may be one single piece that is folded, thereby creating the first and second portions 26, 32 at the seam 38. Such a construction would be particularly well suited for use with a living hinge.

[0013] Located on the elongated sides 44 of the first and second portions 26, 32, may be a fastener 24. In one exemplary embodiment, the fastener 24 may be a strip 45 from a Velcro® fastener running along substantially the entire elongate side 44. The fastener 24 may, however, be one or more fasteners, located near the side 44. Similarly, the fastener 24 need not be made of Velcro®, but may be any fastener suitable for its intended purpose, including, but not limited to hook and loop fasteners, buttons, zippers, latch and key, snaps, re-useable self-stick adhesive, or the like. In one exemplary embodiment, the inside surfaces 28, 34 of the first and second portions 26, 32 may be one part of the fastener 24, such as the hook portion of a Velcro® fastener, and the strip 45 located on at least one of the inside surfaces 28, 34 of the first and second portions 26, 32 may be a loop part of the fastener 24, thereby creating the fastener 24.

[0014] The bristles 40 may be one end of a hook and loop type fastener such as Velcro®, such that the insides 28, 34 of the first and second portions 26, 32 may be one side of a hook and loop material. Alternately and/or additionally, the bristles 40 may be any suitable type of bristles that are part of or are added to the insides 28, 34 of the first and second portions 26, 32.

[0015] The body 22 of the hair straightening device 20 may be made from a material that is rigid or semi-rigid, including, but not limited to, plastic, cloth, or any other material suitable for the intended purpose.

[0016] In operation, as seen in FIGS. 2-4, one or more hair straightening devices 20 may be used to straighten the user's strands of hair 47. In one exemplary embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the user may first open the hair straightening device 20 and locate the hair straightening device 20 relative to the user's strands of hair 47, such that the users strands of hair 47 lay parallel to the elongate sides 42, 44. Anytime before, after and/or during the insertion of the strands of hair 47 into the hair straightening device 20, the user may wet the strands of hair 47 with water and/or any hair styling product to easier manipulate the hair and/or to add a desired quality to the hair, such as body, hold, softness, volume, aroma, shine, lack of frizz, etc.

[0017] The user may place the strands of hair 47 into the open hair straightening device 20, such that the user may brush or smooth the strands of hair 47 with the bristles 40 located on the inside surface 28, 34 of the first and second portions 26, 32. With the strands of hair 47 placed inside the hair straightening devices 20, the user may press the inside surface 28, 34 of the first and second portions 26, 32 together, thereby closing the hair straightening device 20. Similarly, by pressing the inside surfaces 28, 34 together, the fastener 24 may be engaged and the strands of hair 47 may be placed under pressure between the first and second portions 26, 32. The user may also tug on the hair straightening device 20 thereby utilizing the bristles 40 to further straighten and arrange the strands of hair 47 within the hair straightening device 20.

[0018] As shown in FIG. 4, multiple hair straightening devices 20 may be used to accommodate different length and styles of hair. For example, the user may use two or more hair straightening devices 20 on the same strands of hair, or may decide to only straighten parts of the user's strands of hair 47.

[0019] Once the application of water or styling products has been completed, and the hair straightening device 20 is in place, the user may wait to let the hair at least partially dry before opening the hair straightening device 20.

[0020] While the foregoing detailed description has been described with reference to specific examples, which are intended to be illustrative only and not to be limiting of the disclosure, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that changes, additions or deletions may be made to the disclosed embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A hair straightening device comprising: a body having a first portion including an inner surface, a first side, and a second side, and a second portion including an inner surface, a first side, and a second side; a hinge disposed near the first sides of the first and second portions pivotally connecting the first and second portions; a plurality of bristles disposed on at least one of the inner surfaces of the first and second portions; and a fastener mechanism disposed near the second sides of the inner surface of the first and second portions.
 2. The hair straightening device of claim 1, wherein the hinge is a seam pivotally connecting the first and second portions.
 3. The hair straightening device of claim 1, wherein the bristles are constructed from one part of a hook and loop fastener.
 4. The hair straightening device of claim 1, wherein the bristles are constructed from one part of a VELCRO® material.
 5. The hair straightening device of claim 1, wherein the first and second portions are two halves of a single portion.
 6. The hair straightening device of claim 1, wherein the a first part of the fastener is a hook material comprising the bristles on the first portion, and a second part of the fastener is a loop material disposed near the second side of the second portion.
 7. The hair straightening device of claim 1, wherein the a first part of the fastener is a first part of a VELCRO® material comprising the bristles on the first portion, and a second part of the fastener is a second part of the VELCRO® material disposed near the second side of the second portion.
 8. The hair straightening device of claim 1, wherein the bristles are integral to one of the first and second portions.
 9. The hair straightening device of claim 1, wherein the first and second portions are perforated.
 10. The hair straightening device of claim 1, wherein the first and second portions have a generally rectangular shape, wherein the hinge is locate along a long side of the generally rectangular portions.
 11. A hair straightening device comprising: a generally rectangular body having a first portion including an inner surface, a first side and a second side, and a second portion including an inner surface, a first side and a second side, wherein the first and second sides of the first and second portions define long sides of the generally rectangular body; a hinge disposed near the first sides of the first and second portions pivotally connecting the first and second portions; a plurality of bristles disposed on the inner surfaces of both the first and second portions of the body; and a fastener mechanism disposed near the second side on the inner surface of the first and second portions.
 12. The hair straightening device of claim 11, wherein the hinge is a seam pivotally connecting the first and second portions.
 13. The hair straightening device of claim 11, wherein the bristles are constructed from one part of a hook and loop fastener.
 14. The hair straightening device of claim 11, wherein the bristles are constructed from one part of a VELCRO® material.
 15. The hair straightening device of claim 11, wherein the first and second portions are two halves of a single portion.
 16. The hair straightening device of claim 11, wherein the a first part of the fastener is a hook material comprising the bristles on the first portion, and a second part of the fastener is a loop material disposed near the second side of the second portion.
 17. The hair straightening device of claim 11, wherein a first part of the fastener is a first part of a VELCRO® material comprising the bristles on the first portion, and a second part of the fastener is a second part of the VELCRO® material disposed near the second side of the second portion.
 18. The hair straightening device of claim 11, wherein at least one of the first and second portions are perforated.
 19. A method of straightening hair comprising: opening a body of a hair straightening device, the body including a first portion including an inner surface, a first side, and a second side, and a second portion including an inner surface, a first side, and a second side, wherein the first and second portions are pivotally connected at a hinge disposed near the first sides; placing strands of hair between the first and the second portions of the hair straightening device such that the strands of hair lay substantially parallel to the first and second sides of the first and second portions; and closing the body by with a fastener mechanism disposed near the second sides, thereby securing the hair straightening device on the strands of hair.
 20. The method of claim 19, further including engaging the strands of hair with bristles disposed on at least one of the inner surfaces of the first and second portions.
 21. The method of claim 19, further including wetting the strands of hair.
 22. The method of claim 19, further including traversing the hair straightening device along and in a direction parallel to the strands of hair. 